The Challenge of the Beatitudes (4th Sunday of the Year)

Today we hear the challenge of the Beatitudes.

 Through these series of blessings Jesus is raising the status of those who society has rejected, those seen as weak and a burden to our world... the meek, the poor in spirit, those searching for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted.

Jesus throws this challenge to us today... can we and do we make a conscious effort to raise up those who have been pushed to the margins of society by what we say, what we do, what we think and what we feel.

Today we pray that the Lord of Light and Life will illumine our lives so that we may never fear standing alongside those who have been abandoned by everybody else and that we may have the Grace to take the challenge of the Beatitudes into our hearts and allow it to transform us.

Pax

Br Martin

Listen on line to Spirit FM

SpiritFm

Hi
Here is the live link to listen to spirit radio on line. Please visit their excellent website www.spirtradio.ie and give them some well deserved support. You can also listen live to Spirit Fm by clicking on the Spirit Logo to the right of the blog page - enjoy

Look out for an interview on the station with our own Br Kevin Crowley about his work with the homeless of Dublin over the last 40 years.

Every Blessing

Pax

Br Martin

http://www.spiritradio.ie/online//modules/mod_rar_radio/tmpl/player/player.php?radio=aHR0cDovL3N0Mi53ZWJyYWRpb3dvcmxkLm5ldDo4MDM0Lzs,&url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5zcGlyaXRyYWRpby5pZS9vbmxpbmUv&ancho=330&stream=0&logo=L21vZHVsZXMvbW9kX3Jhcl9yYWRpby90bXBsL2ltYWdlbmVzL2xvZ28xLmpwZw,,&alt=RWwgbG9nbyBkZSBsYSBSYWRpbw,,

Take time out to listen to God's call .....

Capuchin Discernment weekend 25th to 27th February 2011. Click the link below for your invitation

Invitation

Please take a couple of minutes to fill out our survey

Franciscan Youth Retreat Survey

St. Francis of Assisi; The Man Who Loved Everybody

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A Short animated Video on one of the pivotal moments of discernment for St Francis - meeting Christ in the Leper

Vocations Prayer Space (thanks to Vocations Ireland)

Greetings and Peace with you all!

I have attached a link to the Prayer space on the Vocations Ireland website. The VI website is a great resource for those of you discerning a vocation to any form of religious life. It was the first place I looked when I began my discernment and, I am sure, the Lord used it to lead me to the Capuchin Friars - Deo Gratias!!

We have a discernment weekend coming up in our Church Street Friary on 25th - 27th of February. All the details are on our website www.irishcapuchins.com and our Facebook page (irish capuchin franciscans)

If you are interested in coming along, spending some time with the Friars and most importantly some time with God discovering what he is asking you to do - then you will be most welcome.

My vocation story, as well as countless others, began by asking that very question ..'.what am I to do with my life that will give it meaning, authenticity and fulfillment?' Once you ask that question you need to listen for the answer - which comes in may forms through Prayer, from friends and family or even through reading this blog!!

If you have asked these questions or similar ones, if you have looked inside to see what you should do, then your journey towards discovering what God is asking of you has already begun!! Congratulatiuons

Peace

Br Martin


http://www.vocationsireland.com/prayer/prayer.html

A Day in the Life of St Francis

Happy New Year

I know we are a few days into it now but this is where the New Year really begins - parties over, friends returned to foreign countries, school, study, work begins again. Early mornings and early nights replace late mornings and even later nights!

 I am sure we have all made promises to give up something, to become something  or to do something in 2011. We tend to, when the New Year arrives, put to the back of our mind Christmas for another year and, with it, we can put to the back of our minds the great gift we all received at Christmas, God Himself.

As we resolve to slim down or give up over the next few weeks maybe we could take some time out to think about the One who gave us all we have and make one more resolution, a simple little one,just  to say 'Thank You' to the Giver of Every Good gift.

Peace and Goodness to you for 2011

Br Martin